PINE BLUFF — The University of Central Arkansas Bears used a pair of three-run innings to down the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, 6-1, on Tuesday night at Taylor Field.
The Bears completed a season sweep of the Golden Lions (5-15).
UCA made the most of its five hits, scoring three runs in the second inning on just one hit. Scott Zimmerle had a one-out double, Ethan Harris walked and Sam Moon was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Justin Treece got an RBI walk before Nick Rougeau struck out. Forrestt Allday was also hit by a pitch, scoring the second run, and Blake Marchal followed by getting hit yet again for a 3-0 lead.
UAPB got one run back in the sixth but UCA plated three more in the seventh. Allday led off with a double and Marchal followed with a single. Allday came in on a passed ball before Jonathan Davis reached on an error, scoring Marchal. Zimmerle added the final run with a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in Davis.
UCA used 10 pitchers, with freshman Connor Gilmore (2-0) earning the victory with a perfect fifth inning. Senior Ethan McKinzie set the Golden Lions down in order in the ninth to close it out.
The Bears open Southland Conference play Friday with the beginning of a three-game series against Oral Roberts in Tulsa.
UCA SOFTBALL
HOUSTON — After losing the first two games of a three-game series Tuesday night, the University of Central Arkansas softball team came back Wednesday afternoon for a historic victory for coach David Kuhn.
The Bears (21-11, 5-4) gave Kuhn his 500th career victory with an 11-5 win over the Huskies (11-10, 5-4).
The Central Arkansas Softball team salvaged their series against Houston Baptist on Wednesday, defeating the Huskies, 11-5, to avoid the sweep.
The win was No. 132 for Kuhn at UCA. Prior to taking over the Bears’ program, Kuhn spent 10 years at Delta State, where he picked up the first 368 wins of his career.
The Bears collected 10 hits, scattered between eight players. Shortstop Melissa Bryant was 2-for-3 with a walk, scoring three runs and driving in three more. Bryant was hit by a pitch, hit her 10th double of the season, and collected her second home run. Stephanie Lasley was the other Central Arkansas player with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored. She also collected a pair of stolen bases. Tiffany Roby was 1 for 4, driving in three runs and scoring two more. She belted her fourth homer of the season.
Kelsie Armstrong (14-7) picked up her 17th complete game of the year, allowing five runs on nine hits and a walk in seven innings of work.
The Huskies swept Tuesday night’s doubleheader, 5-1 and 13-3.
Sam Forrest, Melissa Bryant, and Stephanie Lasley were the only Bears to record a hit in the game, with Bryant going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
Armstrong (13-7) took the loss, throwing six innings and allowing seven hits and three earned runs. She struck out five. Keely Shuler (4-3) earned the win, working all seven innings. She gave up one run on four hits and struck out two batters.
Houston Baptist scored in every inning in the second game. Central Arkansas managed six hits on the game, scattered over five batters. Melanie Bryant was the only Bear to collect multiple hits, going 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
Cicely New of Greenbrier (2-2) started in the circle for Central Arkansas, taking the loss on the back of a four-hit, five-run ball.
HENDRIX BASEBALL
The Hendrix College baseball team pitching staff threw 12 scoreless innings and the offense registered 33 hits en route to 35 runs in a doubleheader sweep of Rust College at Warrior Field on Tuesday afternoon.
The Warriors (9-13) took the first game from the Bearcats, 17-0, in seven innings, then won the nightcap 18-0 in five frames.
In the opener, freshman Mickey Plats (1-1) struck out six and allowed just five hits and a walk in four innings to earn the win.
Hendrix scored at least two runs in every inning, including five in the second. Austin Womack went 4-for-5 with two doubles, three runs scored and three driven in. Matt Simmons had three hits, four RBI and a stolen base. Thomas Weber had a double and a single and knocked in three runs. Charlie St. Clair went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and a steal and Ryan Ritz was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Brady Newville also knocked in two runs. James Owen-Leary drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
In the second game, Warrior freshman starter Brain Commerford (1-0) struck out four and gave up just four hits and a walk to earn the five-inning victory.
Hendrix took control of the contest by sending 18 batters up to the plate in the first and scoring 13 runs on seven hits.
Brandon Smith tied the school record with five hits, including a double, to go with four runs scored and two RBI. Womack went 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Zane Heather went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three driven in.
The Warriors drove in 18 runs, the second most in school history.
Hendrix will host Southern Athletic Association rival Birmingham-Southern in a three-game series this weekend. The first game will be on Friday night at 6 p.m.